Since it’s inception, Ballet Nights has been playing to packed audiences in London, at venues as diverse as Cadogan Hall and The Ministry of Sound. Delivering intriguing pieces by both established international ballet stars and rising talent, each incarnation is innovatively curated by former Scottish Ballet soloist Jamiel Devernay-Laurence. Tonight Devernay-Laurence returns triumphant to his former home, centre stage at Glasgow’s Theatre Royal.
Ballet Nights Glasgow continues with the intention of creating a new ballet tradition, bringing in new audiences to the dance world and delivering opportunity for young dancers as well as allowing ballet devotees the chance to see some of the world’s greatest dancers up close in their local theatres.
The programme kicks off with Devernay-Laurence’s wife Constance, former principal and much-loves star at Scottish Ballet performing I Married Myself from Amy Sherman Palladino and Dan Palladino’s Prime TV show Étoile, where Devernay-Laurence ballet body doubles the lead character and plays the role of dancer Melanie. Here she steps centre stage in her own right to perform the emotive, lyrical piece live.
Next up are Nahum McLean and Darius Drooh – Blacbrik, with Death of the Bachelors. Set to the music of James Brown and Sam Cooke it charts two men and their realisation that their carefree days are over. The pair are hypnotic, leaving the audience wanting more, more, more of this.
Another former firm favourite from Scottish Ballet is Estonian principal Eve Mutso who reminds the Glasgow audience what they are missing since her departure in the beautifully danced Ich Bin Der Welt Abhanden Gekommen.
Future stars in the form of the graduating class of the modern ballet programme at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland perform Divided by Diana Loosemore, a piece bristling with energy and life.
There is much anticipation for the return to Glasgow of Sophie Martin, arguably the best dancer to grace the company in the past 20 years. Here, partnered with fellow Ballett am Rhein member Joan Ivars Ribes, she reminds the audience of her spectacular technique and artistry in On The Nature of Daylight by David Dawson.
After the break, and without introduction Royal Ballet superstar Stephen McRae takes to the stage with his self-choreographed tap version of Hungarian folk dance Czárdás. The first time he has performed the work since his catastrophic and almost career-ending injury. It goes without saying, the cried go wild.
New star of the Royal Ballet Caspar Lench performs 324a by fellow Royal Ballet alumnus Joshua Junker, demonstrating exactly why the plaudits are coming thick and fast for the young dancer.
In a change of pace and tone Ekleido – Hannah Ekholm and Faye Stoeser present Splice a physical puzzle – a hypnotic fusion of contemporary and underground club dance.
Scottish dancer Andrew Cummings returns to the city that he grew up in after a career abroad to perform Infant Spirit, an homage to Pina Bausch, a deeply emotional and expressive work.
The finale, excerpts from Elite Syncopations is a joyous end to an exceptional evening as Constance Devernay-Laurence, Kevin Poeung and Tyrone Singleton perfectly highlight the best of Kenneth MacMillan’s glorious work.
A phenomenal production of the best of the ballet world, it leaves the audience on their feet wanting more.
Reviewed on 4 July 2025 | Image: Deborah Jaffe
The Reviews Hub Score
Phenomenal
